The Ultimate Ranking Of Freshman Dorms at University of Southern California

Picture this: you’re a freshman starting at USC next semester and don’t even know how to start choosing your ideal housing option. I get it, I was there, but fear not, I have a solution to your housing dilemma! So sit back, relax, and read on to find out the ultimate rankings of freshman dorms at University of Southern California. Enjoy!

**Disclaimer: all rankings are opinion-based and numbered relative to #1 in the rankings

General Dorm Facts (Dorms Listed in Alphabetical Order)

1. Birnkrant

Cost per person: $4,610 – 6520
Special interest communities: Asian, Pacific Islander, Desi American Leaders Community
Nearest to: EVK (dining hall), Trojan Grounds Starbucks, Leavey Library

2. Fluor Tower Residential College

Cost per person: $5,230 – 6,560
Nearest to: Lyon Center (gym), Cafe 84 (dining hall)

3. McCarthy Honors College

Cost per person: $3,125 – 6,72
Nearest to: Study Hall, USC Village

4. Marks Hall

Cost per person: $4,493 – 5,775
Nearest to: Doheny Library, Ground Zero (coffeehouse)

5. Marks Tower

Cost per person: $4,493
Special interest community(s): Great Outdoors floors
Nearest to: Doheny Library, Ground Zero (coffeehouse)

6. New Residential College

Cost per person: $4,493 – 6,345
Special interest community(s): New Residential College Cinema floors
Nearest to: EVK (dining hall), Trojan Grounds Starbucks, Leavey Library

7. North Residential College

Cost per person: $4,493 – 6,345
Nearest to: EVK (dining hall), Trojan Grounds Starbucks, Leavey Library

8. Pardee Tower

Cost per person: $4,493
Special interest community(s): Business floors
Nearest to: Doheny Library, Ground Zero (coffeehouse)

9. Parkside International Residential College

Cost per person: $5,230 – 6,145
Special interest community(s): Women in Science & Engineering
Nearest to: Parkside Cafe (dining hall), Natural History Museum

10. Parkside Arts & Humanities Residential College

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Cost per person: $5,230 – 5,440
Special interest community(s): Art & Architecture floor, Performing & Creative Arts floor
Nearest to: Parkside Cafe (dining hall), Natural History Museum

11. Trojan Hall

Cost per person: $4,493
Nearest to: Doheny Library, Ground Zero (coffeehouse)

Affordability Rankings

Single-Style Rooms Rankings (1=Most Expensive Through 10=Least Expensive):

1. $6,725: McCarthy Honors College
2. $6,560: Fluor Tower Residential College
3. $6,520: Birnkrant Residential College
4. $6,500: McCarthy Honors College
5. $6,410: McCarthy Honors College
7. $6,345: New Residential College, North Residential College
8. $6,145: Parkside International Residential College
9. $5,925: Parkside International Residential College
10. $5,900: New Residential College, North Residential College
11. $5,775: Marks Hall

Double-Style Room Affordability Rankings (1=Most Expensive Through 8=Least Expensive):

1. $5,490: McCarthy Honors College
2. $5,440: Parkside International Residential College, Parkside Arts & Humanities Residential College
3. $5,345: Parkside Arts & Humanities Residential College
4. $5,230: McCarthy Honors College, Parkside Arts & Humanities Residential College, Parkside International Residential College, Fluor Tower Residential College
5. $5,010: New Residential College, North Residential College
6. $4,925: McCarthy Honors College
7. $4,493: New Residential College, North Residential College, Marks Hall, Marks Tower, Pardee Tower, Trojan Hall, Birnkrant Residential College
8. $3,125: McCarthy Honors College

Triple-Style Room Affordability Ranking:

1. $6,725: McCarthy Honors College (Single)
2. $6,560: Fluor Tower Residential College (Single)
3. $6,520: Birnkrant Residential College (Single)
4. $6,500: McCarthy Honors College (Single)
5. $6,410: McCarthy Honors College (Single)
6. $6,345: New Residential College, North Residential College (Single)
7. $6,145: Parkside International Residential College (Single)
8. $5,925: Parkside International Residential College (Single)
9. $5,900: New Residential College, North Residential College (Single)
10. $5,775: Marks Hall (Single)
11. $5,490: McCarthy Honors College (Double)
12. $5,440: Parkside International Residential College, Parkside Arts & Humanities Residential College (Double)
13. $5,345: Parkside Arts & Humanities Residential College (Double)
14. $5,230: McCarthy Honors College, Parkside Arts & Humanities Residential College, Parkside International Residential College, Fluor Tower Residential College (Double)
15. $5,010: New Residential College, North Residential College (Double)
16. $4,925: McCarthy Honors College (Double)
17. $4,610: Birnkrant Residential College (Triple)
18. $4,493: New Residential College, North Residential College, Marks Hall, Marks Tower, Pardee Tower, Trojan Hall, Birnkrant Residential College (Double)
19. $3,125: McCarthy Honors College (Double)

Quality Rankings

Suite-Style Dorm Quality Rankings (1=Best Through 4=Worst):

1. McCarthy Honors College
2. Fluor Tower Residential College
3. Parkside International Residential College
4. Parkside Arts & Humanities Residential College

Residence Hall Dorm Quality Rankings (1=Best Through 7=Worst):

1. Pardee Tower
2. Marks Tower
3. Trojan Hall
4. Marks Hall
5. New Residential College
6. North Residential College
7. Birnkrant Residential College

Overall Quality Rankings (1=Best Through 11=Worst):

1. McCarthy Honors College
2. Fluor Tower Residential College
3. Parkside International Residential College
4. Parkside Arts & Humanities Residential College
5. Pardee Tower
6. Marks Tower
7. Trojan Hall
8. Marks Hall
9. New Residential College
10. North Residential College
11. Birnkrant Residential College

Still not sure about what dorming option you should choose? Want more information? Check out USC’s 2017-2018 Undergraduate Housing brochure here: http://housing.usc.edu/index.php/publication/living-at-usc-for-freshmen-2017-2018/ 

Which of the freshman dorms at University of Southern California did you live in? Share your dorm experience in the comments below!

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